Ken Gratton•7 Jun 2013
REVIEW
Fiat 500 Pop 2013 Review
New market position brings Fiat's retro charmer to the masses – finallyFiat 500 Pop
First Drive
Melbourne, Victoria
What we liked:
>> Cheeky design that never grows old(er)
>> Bright and airy cabin ambience
>> Easy to drive and needs half the parking space of a Chrysler 300
Not so much:
>> Driving position ergonomics
>> Engine output is not for the fast lane
>> Much more an urban runabout than an open-road tourer
Words like 'perennial' and 'evergreen' seem to have been coined for the Fiat 500. Even in the form of the front-wheel drive hatch that celebrates the original rear-engined model from the 1960s, the modern 500 feels like it has been around for eons.
In Australia it has been the backbone of Fiat sales since the car's introduction here in 2008, but not quite 12 months ago the distribution changed hands from Ateco to the factory (now Fiat Chrysler) and Fiat is now looking for sales volume in Australia, rather than niche-market cachet.
This is the second occasion in recent times that Fiat Chrysler has changed the model mix for the 500 range in the pursuit of mainstream sales success. Spearheading the latest push for volume-led profit is the 500 Pop, a 1.2-litre model developing a meagre 51kW and 102Nm.
Our brief drive of the new car, which is priced at a very attractive $14,000, including on-road costs, left us with mixed feelings almost immediately. Entry was made easier by the high H-point and the ambience of the entry-level model driven was surprisingly restful. I say 'surprisingly' because the plastics were bone-coloured and the fabrics were red. While it's a colour combo you won't see in modern designs, it's reassuring in a nostalgic sort of way, and lends the cabin a more open feel. It might mark easily though, especially if you have kids climbing in and out of the back seat.
The pedal placement was not to my liking. As we've stated previously, reviewing other derivatives of the Fiat 500, you practically need an additional (double) joint in the lower part of the leg – somewhere between knee and ankle – to find an appropriate driving position. And the situation isn't helped any by the lack of reach adjustment for the steering wheel.
It is possible, however, to approximate a solution for people of average build, and certainly the 500 Pop doesn't feel as compromised to drive as the 695 Tributo Ferrari model driven in August of last year.
Packaging of the 500 Pop is very much in the same mould as the 500C Abarth Esse Esse reviewed at the same time as the Tributo Ferrari. Control placement is mostly sensible (notwithstanding the 'sinister' indicator stalk on the left), but the major instrument binnacle is a little fussy for at-a-glance reading. Switches for the power windows are located on the centre fascia/console rather than in the door armrests and the lever to adjust seat recline is located on the inboard side of the seat squab, not outboard where you would expect to find it. These little quirks – necessitated by the 500's compact interior – are certainly not the ergonomic deal-breakers encountered in other cars... cars frequently much more expensive than the Fiat.
What may pose a problem for some buyers is the 500 Pop's confounding lack of grunt. It is a 1.2-litre four up front, after all, and that means acceleration is leisurely – but occasionally stressful for the driver... when a 4.0-litre taxi is in a hurry to get past. The engine was punchy enough in the lower gears and at speeds up to 60km/h however.
While the shift quality of the five-speed manual transmission was foolproof, performance of the car on the open road might benefit from an extra gear, although it wouldn't make that much difference overall. Even a car as light as the 500 Pop will only go so hard with that level of power and torque, irrespective of how it's geared.
On the flip side, it's hard to argue with the car's combined-cycle fuel consumption of 5.1L/100km – although there was no opportunity to see how the 500 Pop fared in the real world, beyond the walls of the emissions lab.
Noise was generally well damped, to the car's credit, although the tyres were a little raucous over some rough patches of freeway. Around town is more likely to be where the 500 Pop will feel at home. Parking is ridiculously easy, for instance. Outside Fiat Chrysler's corporate headquarters in Port Melbourne the parking spots – sufficient for a Chrysler 300 – were virtually large enough to accommodate two of the Fiats. And it's quite narrow for those tight squeezes you occasionally encounter in the inner suburban back streets and laneways of our larger cities.
Ride comfort was quite good in a car with such a short wheelbase, and based on admittedly very limited scope for assessing the car's cornering, it turned in promptly and felt a more competent handler than its high stance might lead you to believe. As the entry-level model, it did feel slightly lacking in the tyre department and seemed prone to duck and weave a little at the straight-ahead.
But you know what? There is some serious appeal in this car, particularly at this price. It's cute and charming, with oodles of allure to break the ice at parties.
Pictures show interior of 500 Lounge and exterior of 500 Pop.
Read the latest news and reviews on your mobile, iPhone or PDA at carsales' mobile site...
Tags
Fiat
500
Car Reviews
Hatchback
First Car
Written byKen Gratton
Our team of independent expert car reviewers and journalists
Related articles
Disclaimer
Please see our Editorial Guidelines & Code of Ethics (including for more information about sponsored content and paid events). The information published on this website is of a general nature only and doesn’t consider your particular circumstances or needs.
Please see our Editorial Guidelines & Code of Ethics (including for more information about sponsored content and paid events). The information published on this website is of a general nature only and doesn’t consider your particular circumstances or needs.
Love every move.
Buy it. Sell it.Love it.
®Contact
Advertise with us
Local marketplaces
International marketplaces
Scan to download the carsales app
Want more info? Here’s our app landing page
App Store and the Apple logo are trademarks of Apple Inc. Google Play and the Google Play logo
are trademarks of Google LLC.